The TE2000 Nikon microscope is one of the leading inverted microscopes on the market for live cell imaging. The newest version: the TE2000-E model, includes a high-precision, motorized-focus and vibration-free optical path changeover mechanism for 3D imaging. It is an automated microscope that can be controlled through a serial port using Meta Imaging Series applications.
The TE2000 is fitted for fluorescence applications and Hoffman Modulation Contrast microscope techniques and can be equipped with a 1.4 mega-pixel monochrome camera with an RGB (red, green, blue) filter wheel. It has a 5 port design and one can easily integrate various pieces of imaging equipment according to one’s research needs. Its versatile design and the optional stage risers create space for additional attachments such as a laser light source that will not affect the performance or stability for standard epi-fluorescence or DIC (Differential Interference Contrast) microscopy techniques. The TE2000 has an extendible design that allows the distance between the objective and tube lenses to be extended up to 80 mm enabling the addition of other attachments without modifying the microscope.
The TE2000 is well known for being able to provide a higher NA (Numerical Aperture) and longer working distances, as well as a great signal-to-noise ratio. These features lead to images of high contrast when the microscope is used for TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence), for example, as they increase the contrast and extend the detection level limit.
The microscope has a user-friendly, ergonomic design and I found its operation pretty straightforward. Frequently-used buttons and controls are all located at the front and within easy reach. An external fine focus unit is available for the E model. The nose piece is inclined to the left, making it easy to read the magnification and adjust the correction ring. The low-profile stage facilitates handling of specimens. The 25°-inclination eyepiece tubes minimize fatigue during long hours of observation and an ergonomic tilting eyepiece tube is available as an option. The inclination angle is adjustable from 15° to 45°.
The model TE2000-E also features a motorized focus which is very useful for applications that require comprehensive 3D information about the specimen. Yet another very useful feature is the auto-descending nose piece that enables the nose piece to descend automatically and to return to the original height after the rotation has finished. In this way, the observer can rotate the nose piece easily and change the objective magnification safely.
The TE2000-PFS (Perfect Focus) is another new version that enables the scientist to have a continuous dynamic focus correction that maintains a perfect focus during live-cell recording over days. This feature eliminates changes in focus during long time-lapse video microscopy sessions or imaging of rapid cellular events, as well as those caused by the temperature drop after addition of reagents, from thermal contractions and expansion of the system, or caused by changes in the living specimen. Focus is continuously corrected and this enables the imaging of the plane of interest for days in a row as the PFS automatically detects the surface (either the interface of glass and medium in immersion applications or glass and air in dry applications) of the coverslip and continually corrects focus to compensate for any changes. The coverslip surface is detected by the LED light emitted through the objective. The perfect focus feature can be purchased separately and we were able to upgrade our system a few years after purchasing the Nikon 2000-E microscope. The results are spectacular.
I have used the Nikon 2000-E microscope extensively and some of my time-lapse video-microscopy images won the third prize and the first mention at the Cell Dance Scientific Movies Festival of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) annual meetings in 2005 and 2006. They also became part of the ASCB Image and Video Library and can be downloaded for education or scientific purposes at.
Postdoc
Department of Medical Genetics and Microbiology
University of Toronto